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According to The New York Times, (Zimbabwe's future: Made in China - The New York Times) "China won a contract to farm 1,000 square kilometers, or 386 square miles, of land seized from white chas ommercial farmers during the land-confiscation program begun by Mugabe in 2000."

5.Tibet could be considered to be a Chinese colony.

There have been times when China and Tibet were separate countries.

However, in 1950, China invaded Tibet.

6. China is becoming more influential in Sri Lanka.

The recent victory of the Sri Lankan Government over the Tamil Tigers was assisted by the supply of arms from China.

7. Chinese engineers are building a port at Gwadar in Pakistan.

8. The Chinese are in Iraq.

"The state-run China National Petroleum Corporation has become the first foreign company to start work in an Iraqi oil field after a gap of 30 years.

"CNPC has launched work on a $3 billion old field development project at the Al-Ahdab oilfield in Iraq’s eastern province of Wasit." (China allowed into Iraq oil fields. )

Richard Parry, the author, was correspondent for the British Independent newspaper for the period 1997-1999 covered by this book and has chosen violence as his theme for understanding recent Indonesian history.

Given the short time he was here, he could just as well have chosen kretek cigarettes or herbal medicine as his theme.

I've read a few online reviews of the book by journalists who may have seen a clip of a riot on CNN and none of them seem to portray the societal upheaval that I witnessed in that period.

None of them convey the solidarity felt by residents here, but all have that element of touristic voyeurism.

Miko, a long-term resident, a regular reader of Jakartass and occasional commentator, has written the following review. It should save you the expense of buying the book.

Parry's book is a load of onanistic twaddle. While walking through a country in great turmoil all he tells us about is himself, how he is feeling, his emotions, what he is enduring, him, him, him.A good journalist should be able to report what is happening and convey the scene on the ground in precise objective terms. We couldn't give a flying fart what emotional turmoil they may be enduring, we're not interested no more than I care what the personal emotions of my plumber are as long as he makes a good job of restoring my shower fittings.Parry tells us that on the morning of the Trisakti shootings he was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him, he tells us how he felt about this and what it would mean for him but then after much agonising he decides not to. Then he goes to the university to watch the demo he stays for an hour or two and then goes back to the hotel where he is told about the shooting. He misses the biggest story in Indonesia in thirty years, but, hey, we know about his domestic situation, sheesh great journo.In East Timor everyone is cartoonish, the brave, quiet, proud, heroic, romantic Timorese, and the ugly, goonlike, thick, dirty Indonesians none of whom have a redeeming quality.Of course as soon as the first shots are fired he scarpers for the UN compound and stays there thus having no idea what was going on outside. But we do know that he was tired, emotional and contemplative oh and yes Timorese civilians were being massacred outside the walls. When the first evacuation plane comes he scrambles on board; well, he had no cigarettes left. What do you expect from courageous journalists? He doesn't record how many Timorese women and children he pushed out of the way to get on the plane.Back in Darwin he agonises for a month in various Irish bars before going back again. This time he sees lots of big burly Aussie and Brit soldiers, whom he clearly doesn't like and describes in insulting terms. You see sensitive souls such as him are offended by men who say "fuck" a lot. He passes over the fact that these brutes were the people who sorted the damn mess out while writers like him were wanking themselves into a coma.Sorry for the length of this review but I just finished the book last night and I needed to get it off my chest this morning.

Aangirfan comments: In his book, Richard Lloyd Parry makes no mention of the CIA/MI6 role in the toppling of both Sukarno and Suharto.

Admiral Dennis Blair, currently director of US national intelligence, reportedly offered the Indonesian military increased assistance at the time when its troops and militias were murdering innocent civilians in East Timor.

Former general Prabowo Subianto, who heads the Gerindra Party, "has paid lip-service to democratic principles, but most observers believe that his election as president would lead Indonesia onto the path of neo-authoritarianism." (Chaos and consolidation)

General Wiranto "has pledged his loyalty to the democratic system, but leaders of his Hanura Party (People’s Conscience Party) have privately stated their ambition to roll back democratic reforms achieved since 1998." (Chaos and consolidation)

Indonesians are generally liberal and friendly and in favour of democracy.

Reportedly, in Italy, there are various powerful 'families', who do not always see eye to eye.

Reportedly, in Indonesia, the military includes various 'factions'.

Reportedly, in Indonesia, certain right-wing generals are not very happy with President Susilo Yudhoyono, who is a former general, and a little bit of a reformer.

In Indonesia, in the first half of 2009, there was a presidential election campaign, involving at least 4 generals, including Susilo Yudhoyono, Prabowo and Wiranto.

Reportedly, some of the military have had an 'Anyone But Susilo Yudhoyono' campaign.

The generals are usually allied to the rich elite; and that apparently suits the Pentagon.

"RUMORS abound that presidential candidates from the ranks of retired generals are making use of their ex-subordinates' loyalty to form political lobbies...

"PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Andi Mallarangeng confirmed that the information on military notables who had been engaged in the 'Anyone but 'S' for President' or ABS campaign did enter the Palace..."

In early 2009, "Army Chief of Staff, General Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo gathered around 200 retired generals in the Balai Kartini in Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jakarta.

"Present were, among others, former Army Chief of Staff, Gen. (ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu..."

Reportedly, at the time of the Bali bombings, one of the generals who just happened to be in Bali was army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu. [Jakarta Post, 1/3/2003; Pacific Media Watch, 3/31/2003] (Ryamizard Ryacudu)

"Elections in June 1999 produced a reformist president, Abdurrahman Wahid, who tried to curb the armed forces' political influence.

"Coincidentally, there was a surge of violence around the archipelago from which the military (TNI) stood to benefit both politically - as guardian of national stability - and materially, by supplying arms to combatants and collecting protection money from affected civilians and businesses.

"Radical Islamic thugs even were recruited into graft wars between police and the military, which had been under the same command during the Suharto era.

"Groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front denounced vice then ransacked nightspots that failed to pay off their uniformed sponsors.

"White-robed vigilantes smashing liquor bottles garnered extensive media coverage, but no punishment, helping to establish a climate that made religious violence seem not just acceptable but attractive and even heroic.

"The International Crisis Group and other sources found military links galore in clashes between Christians and Muslims in Central Sulawesi and the Malukus that began in 1999 and killed thousands.

"Islamic militia group Laksar Jihad received military training and supplies as it recruited thousands of warriors for the Muslim side, expanding and escalating local skirmishes. Top military commanders ignored presidential orders to stop jihadis and arms from reaching conflict zones...

"Indonesia suffered repeated bombings during Wahid's term.

"Many blasts preceded Suharto's scheduled court appearances on corruption charges that were ultimately dropped because of his alleged poor health.

"A September 2000 car bomb at the Jakarta Stock Exchange killed 15. Arrests nabbed ... two members of the military's elite Kopassus commandos..."

There were rumours that the weapons were to be used in a plot against President Yudhoyono.

"It is not unthinkable that they were to be used for a coup d’etat, sold, or channeled to separatist movements," said Yuddy Chrisnandi, a member of the House's Defense Commission.

According to Tempo Magazine: "Suspicions of a coup are based on the high level of rivalry within the TNI (the military), between those who support President Yudhoyono and those who oppose him."

General Prabowo and Megawati, who stood against General Yudhoyono in the 2009 presidential election, claim that 28.5 million votes for President Yudhoyono were invalid.

General Wiranto is also not happy with the election result as his group came third.

The campaign team of Megawati Sukarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto has lodged legal action demanding that the Constitution Court annul President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s victory and order new elections. - Mega Demands Showdown With SBY

Back in in May 1998, it was President Suharto who was in trouble.

Rumour had it that the army was split between supporters of General Wiranto and supporters of General Prabowo.

Word was that on the streets there were three rival forces: Wiranto’s tanks, Prabowo’s tanks and the tanks of the marines.

Reportedly Wiranto went to President Suharto on the evening of the 20th of May and told him that he, Suharto, no longer had the support of the army.

Allegedly Wiranto also spoke at some point to Habibie, who took over from Suharto, and insisted that Prabowo should be demoted.

Some weeks later there were press reports of a dramatic incident that allegedly happened late on the evening on May 21st, 1998.

According to a 'senior military official', General Prabowo, accompanied by troops, arrived at the presidential palace and demanded that he be made boss of the armed forces.

One report spoke of a loyal army officer helping Habibie and his family make their escape from the palace.

What we do know is that, on May the 22nd, Prabowo was sacked as head of Kostrad while Wiranto remained as chief of the armed forces.

6. In 1991, UK Prime Minister John Major successfully sued Scallywag and the New Statesman for suggesting that he had had an affair with the Downing Street cook.

Major launched a 'back to basics' campaign which encouraged support for traditional morality and the family.

Between 1984 and 1988, Major had an affair with Tory MP Edwina Currie. had been lovers.

Major claimed that his wife, Norma, had long known of his affair.

7.Robert Boothby had an affair with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's wife and a gay affair with an East End gangster, Ronnie Kray.

Macmillan made Boothby a peer in 1958.

8.Jeremy Thorpe became leader of the UK Liberal party in 1967.

In 1961 Thorpe had met Norman Scott.

Scott claimed that Thorpe had sex with him, an act that was illegal at that time.

Allegedly, in 1975, an 'assassin' was hired to kill Scott.

The assassin killed Scott’s dog and was found guilty of firearms offences.

Thorpe was put on trial for conspiracy to murder but was found not guilty.

9.John Profumo was the UK's Secretary of State for War.

Lord Astor was a man who held sexy parties at Cliveden, his stately home.

Stephen Ward was an osteopath and procurer of girls for top people. He may or may not have been a spy for MI6 or the Russians or both.

One of Ward's friends was Christine Keeler.

Yevgeny Ivanov was a Russian naval officer and 'spy'.

Christine Keeler met John Profumo at Cliveden in 1961.

Christine had an affair with both Profumo and the Russian, Ivanov.

One night, a West Indian called Johnny Edgecombe arrived at Stephen Ward’s house and began shooting at the door.

Eventually, Stephen Ward was arrested and he then died in mysterious circumstances.

Before long, Harold Wilson, who had many connections to Israel, had become Prime Minister.

(Reportedly, Dr Stephen Ward had an MI5 controller, Keith Wagstaffe.

Reportedly, Sir Colin Coote, Editor of the Daily Telegraph and a former officer in MI6, was responsible for introducing Ward to Ivanov 'at the behest of his old service', MI6. - PROFUMO, John - Spy School Bios.

Reportedly, Ward and prostitute Ronna Ricardo came upon a paedophile ring run by Anthony Blunt. - Cached.

Mandy Rice-Davies was befriended by Stephen Ward and became involved in 'The Profumo Affair'.

Mandy was the mistress of Peter Rachman, alleged by one source to be a Mossad agent.

Reportedly, J. Edgar Hoover was aware that 'the Ward circle included many extremely well known Americans and girls such as Suzy Chang and Mariella Novotny who had been bedded by President John F. Kennedy.' PROFUMO, John - Spy School Bios.

Who gained from the Profumo Affair? Harold Wilson became UK Prime Minister.

Anatoli Golitsin, a spy who defected from the KGB, claimed that Hugh Gaitskell was murdered in 1963 so that Harold Wilson, a 'KGB agent' and friend of Israel, could become leader of the Labour Party.)

10. By 2003, Mark Oaten had become the UK Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman and he was tipped as a future party leader.

In 2004, the married Oaten began seeing a rent boy.

In 2006, Oaten attempted to become the leader of the the Liberal Democrat Party.

The News of the World told Oaten they knew about his rent boy, his three-in-a-bed romps and a ‘bizarre sex act too revolting to describe’.

(Coprophilia is "an abnormal, often obsessive interest in excrement, especially the use of feces for sexual excitement.")

11. In 1992, the Sun reported an affair that Paddy Ashdown, then leader of the Liberal Democrats, had had with his former secretary.

In his autobiography, Ashdown admitted that he lost his virginity to his maths tutor when he was aged 14.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

"Before Osama bin Laden became the world’s most wanted terrorist, he was the world’s biggest heroin kingpin...

"Enter Mohamed Atta...

"Atta chose as his U.S. base Huffman Aviation, a flight school in tiny Venice Florida, a modest business of no particular note (it has never grossed more than two or three million dollars a year) which had recently been sold to two men we have subsequently learned have deep connections into international organized crime."

"The Finnish Speaker of the Parliament Sauli Niinisto spoke of the surreptitious campaign underway - indeed almost completed - to pull his nation into an expanding worldwide military alliance despite its citizens not only being opposed to but not even aware of it." - Afghanistan: Training Ground for War on Russia

"According to the Ergenekon indictment, Ergenekon leaders used terrorist organizations in Turkey ... to create chaos in the country, which they hoped would make it easier to realize their ultimate goal of triggering a military intervention.

"The evidence suggests that the group had links to ... the fundamentalist organization Hizbullah ... and Hizb ut-Tahrir...

"A past raid at the house of Kemal Aydın and Neriman Aydın, two Ergenekon suspects, had revealed the terrorist organization's close ties with Hizb ut-Tahrir...

"İstanbul police also said the leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir's Turkish branch, Cemalettin B., started to lead his group from Israel, where he settled after being released from prison in Turkey. Cemalettin B. was sending e-mails to his followers from his Israeli home and preparing his group for attacks in Turkey.

"Turkish police are now focusing on the relations between the group's leader and Israel. Cemalettin B. has not been subjected to police follow-up or legal action in Israel since he settled there."

Stalin with Averill Harriman, who was reportedly a member of the Skull and Bones Society.

Fairly recently, the Mail on Sunday revealed how Sir John Sawers, who is to become head of Britain's spy service MI6, 'left himself open to a security breach' when his wife published photos on Facebook.

Gladio style terror in Indonesia? "The plan was found on the computer of Azahari bin Husin, Noordin's right-hand man... 'The enemy often gathers in restaurants and discos in Bali. A mass attack on the enemy is more possible there than anywhere else in Indonesia,' it said.

Operation Gladio was organised by 'fascists' within the security services of the West. Reportedly, the idea was to kill innocent people and then blame this on others. Gladio was about keeping the right-wing elite in power.

Gladio agent Vincenzo Vinciguerra stated, in sworn testimony:

'You had to attack civilians, the people, women, children, innocent people, unknown people far removed from any political game. The reason was quite simple: to force ... the public to turn to the state to ask for greater security.'